VIDEO: Sulaimon says world should acknowledge Rocky

World Boxing Council President Jose Sulaiman arrived in Brockton on Monday with a promise to push forward plans for a statue honoring boxing legend Rocky Marciano. “He’s the only heavyweight in history to retire 49-0,” Sulaiman said. “I believe that the world should acknowledge that great accomplishment.”

By Maria Papadopoulos

The Enterprise, Brockton, MA

By Maria Papadopoulos

Posted Jun. 14, 2011 at 12:01 AM
Updated Jun 14, 2011 at 2:10 PM

By Maria Papadopoulos

Posted Jun. 14, 2011 at 12:01 AM
Updated Jun 14, 2011 at 2:10 PM

BROCKTON

» Social News

Alice Pereira couldn’t go to bed during a Joe Louis championship fight if her brother, Rocky Marciano, was in the room.

Marciano, the only heavyweight champion to retire undefeated, would become an opponent and friend of Louis, who held the heavyweight boxing championship of the world for almost 12 years, from 1937 until 1949.

But back in those early years, before launching his boxing career, Marciano would make Pereira, two years his junior, listen to the Joe Louis fights as they were broadcast on the radio in the family’s Brockton home.

Fast forward to Monday night, when representatives of the World Boxing Council visited Brockton to discuss plans for a towering statue honoring Marciano, who died in a plane crash in 1969 at age 45.

Pereira began crying when she thought of her late brother, and what he’d say about the planned statue as hundreds joined the boxing delegation for dinner at George’s Cafe on Belmont Street on Monday.

“He’d say, ‘I told you I was going to be a hero someday,’” said Pereira, 85, of Easton, tears streaming down her face. “He always told me, ‘I’m going to do something big.’”

Now, the World Boxing Council plans to do something big: erect a $300,000 bronze statue of Marciano, standing 33 feet high, plus a concrete base. The statue would be located in front of the Rocky Marciano Stadium at Brockton High School.

World Boxing Council President Jose Sulaiman arrived in Brockton on Monday with a promise to push the project forward.

“We are all going to bring the statue to Brockton,” Sulaiman said as he addressed a packed room at George’s Cafe.

Minutes earlier, Rocky’s brother, Peter Marciano Sr., gave Sulaiman a personal tour of the restaurant, which has chronicled all that is Brockton, including the city’s two world boxing champions, Marciano and Marvelous Marvin Hagler, with dozens of photos on its walls.

As he gazed at black-and-white photos of Marciano, Sulaiman said the Brockton native and world champion deserves a greater salute.

“We think that he was never given the recognition that he deserved,” Sulaiman said. “He’s the only heavyweight in history to retire 49-0. I believe that the world should acknowledge that great accomplishment.”

The event drew dozens of Marciano family members and friends, city officials, businessmen and residents.

Mayor Linda Balzotti said the statue would “be a tremendous asset” for the city.

Looking out into the crowd, the mayor said jokingly, “I have never seen such testosterone in one room.”

Page 2 of 2 - “We’re just so proud to be Brocktonians and to have him represent the city,” said Colombo, 79, of Brockton.

Nick Sylvester was just 13 when he became friends with Marciano, and the relationship grew and grew through the years. He would accompany Marciano to pre-fight training camps and said he attended all 49 of the Brockton Blockbuster’s victories.

“I loved him very, very much and I miss him very much,” Sylvester, 86, said.

He recalled meeting Elizabeth Taylor and other Hollywood celebrities at championship fights he attended with Marciano.

“No matter where we went, it was always a great life with him,” he said.